“Why didn’t she simply embrace her humanity and show that she could fully embrace the humanity of others, despite her whiteness,” from ‘Rachel Dolezal’s Imitation Game…’ by Charles D. Ellison, veteran political strategist and contributing editor of The Root.

In view of the Rachel Dolezal story, a woman who resigned her post recently as President of the NAACP’s Spokane Chapter in Washington State, seems a national conversation has started about race, which is good. Yet, this time, the focus is more about racial identity rather than race or the complex subject of racism.

While watching Anderson Cooper’s show on CNN recently and his lovely guests, writer and social activist, Michaela Angela Davis and New York Times op-ed columnist, Charles M. Blow, I was struck by the statement referring to race as being a “social construct” in which all three unanimously agreed. Being self-educated in the School of Higher Learning where a universal experience of truth is sought rather than a collective theory, here is where I differ.

Back in the day, when they still taught the three R’s (reading, writing and arithmetic) and some science, race was a term science used to identify the four basic groups of humanity. Based upon the physical characteristics of each group, mainly the skin color; hence, the Red, Yellow, Black and White race; which, at a glance, still makes sense today.

Basis of Race as a ‘Social Construct’

Recently, say within the last century or so, Social Sciences have come up with its own scheme of things known as a theory, not a fact mind you, but a mere speculation which identifies race as a ‘social construct’ that tends to sound all fancy and real, but it isn’t. Of course, this has come to serve a great purpose in the glorified world of academia, where a good debate is often preferred over speaking the truth in a given issue, in my opinion.

With required study and passage of time, the better one becomes at debating an issue, any issue, the more educated one is deemed to be; regardless of whether the truth is ever revealed. Thus, modern society is teeming with PhDs still debating, yet rarely in search of the truth.

Sadly, today, the ongoing debate about race and its ‘social construct’ continues to confuse most everybody. While the real origin of racism that continues to impede the evolution of American democracy, is rarely talked about.

Race, A Biological Reality Indeed

During the last few days seems some are trying to justify Miss Rachel’s actions with those of the transgender community, which is a big mistake. So please, let’s not even go there.

As I understand it, the purpose of gender transitioning, whether choosing to undergo sexual reassignment or not, is to live one’s gender orientation openly and truthfully in society without prejudice. Thus, free of the social construct of having to live a lie just to survive.

Conversely, one who lies about their racial origin is not free. As that person is living a lie, thus often in a state of fear. In time, self-hatred arises and takes its toll on the quality of life.

In Rachel’s case, had she been truthful about her racial origin and cultural background, her story to the world would have been so much more meaningful, thus richer. Instead of living a lie, she could have lived the truth, thus learning to love herself in the process.

This, I believe, is why the truth has finally come out for Rachel. So as to set her, and others close to her, free to express life’s greatest asset…the truth.

Since race is a biological reality created by a Higher Power not of this world, we can safely believe that race is not a social construct to be debated endlessly.

Yet, American racism is a social construct, ca.1600!

Today, we can choose to adopt another race and its culture as long as we tell the truth! So, let’s keep it real, shall we? After all, no one really likes being lied too.